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Kavyanusasana To these sources we are able to add three more works: (1) the Kumārapālapratibodha of Somaprabha. sūri and his Satāratha Kāvya; (2) the Moharājaparājaya of Yaşahpāla and (3) the Parātana-prabandha Samgrah. Of these three - the first two are works of authors contemporary to Hemachandra; while the last as we have seen, is a compilation supplying many details.
The Kumāra pāla pratibodha is, then, our main contemporary authority for information regarding Hemachandra. But the author, frankly, confesses that though there is much else that is interesting in the lives of these two great men (viz: Hemachandra and Kumārapala ), he has only touched that part which pertains to the inculcation of Jainadharma. 'For this,' he says, 'he should not be blamed, for a man may choose from a kitchen full of many eatables, only that which he likes' (p. 3, K. Pra. G. O. S.). This means that though we shall have to examine the later sources in the light of information derived from this work, there will remain many gaps in the life-story of Hemachandra to fill which we will have to rely solely upon the later sources. Of these, as we shall find, the Pra. Cha. is comparatively more useful.
The Kumāra pāla-pratibcdha does not directly narrate the life-story of Hemachandra. The author provides a dramatic occasion for it. Kumārapāla is very anxious to know what true religion is and is not satisfied with what his Brahmaņical preceptors tell him; for it involved killing of animals in sacrifices. The king is not able to sleep being much troubled in mind over the question. Then his minister Bahadadeva (S't Vágbhatadeva ) bows to the king and makes his submission thus “ Oh King ! if you want to know the nature of dharma anda dharma
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